Chain guard



July 18, 1950 H. L. MUELLER CHAIN GUARD Original Filed Jan. 2, 1948 INVENTOR. HOMEI? L. MUELLER ma /La QQJZLJL ATTOZA/E Y6.

Reissued July 18, 1950 CHAIN GUARD Homer L. Mueller, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to The Cleveland Welding Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Original No. 2,492,879, dated December 2'7, 1949, Serial No. 91, January 2, 1948. Application for reissue March 1, 1950, Serial No. 146,941

10 Claims.

Matter enclosed in heavy brackets appears in the original patent but forms no part of this reissue specification; matter printed in italics indicates the additions made by reissue The present invention relates generally, as indicated, to a chain guard, and more especially to a chain guard which is adapted to be mounted on a bicycle for protecting the leg and foot of the driver thereof from chain grease and injury, as well as precluding damage to his wearing apparel by reason of the same becoming caught between the chain and the sprocket wheels over which such chain is trained. Said chain guard also serves as an ornamental accessory to a bicycle whereby to enhance the appearance and streamlining thereof.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to provide a chain guard so formed that the aforesaid purposes may be effectually attained.

Another object is to provide a novel form of bracket on the chain guard for enabling convenient mounting thereof to a bicycle of conventional form.

Another object is to provide a novel form of bracket which imparts rigidity tothe chain guard body whereby the latter may be fabricated from relatively light-weight stock.

Another object is to provide a chain guard body and bracket assembly which assures proper mountin with one end of the guard disposed concentrically with respect to the crank-driven sprocket wheel of the bicycle.

Another object is to provide a chain guard which extends rearwardly over the upper side of the chain to a point between the rear fork frame members so as to substantially overlie the straight length of chain between the sprocket wheels-over which such chain is trained.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the following description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawing setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawing Flg. 1 is a side elevation View of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation view as viewed from the righthand end of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a rear end elevation view as viewed from the lefthand end of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross section view taken subs'tantially'along the line 4-4; Fig. 1; a

Fig. 5 is a side elevation view of a preferred form of bracket illustrating the same in its original form as punched or stamped from sheet stock;

Fig. 6 is a cross section view of the bracket taken substantially along the line 6-45, Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a completely formed bracket.

Insofar as the bicycle to which the chain guard constituting the present invention is adapted to be mounted is concerned, only such portions thereof which are pertinent to the present disclosure have been included. Thus, the bicycle is generally ilustrated as comprising a frame including a rear fork member I with frame members .2 and 3 connected thereto and a hub portion 4 with frame members 5 and 6 projecting radially therefrom.

Each side of such rear fork preferably includes a fork member I provided with projections B. of oblong cross section over which the correspondingly shaped ends of the tubular frame members 2 and 3 are fitted, said members I, 2, and 3 usually being securely joined together as by welding, for example. Between said fork is a coaster brake or other free-wheeling drive unit (not shown) which includes a toothed sprocket wheel 9, the axle ll] of such unit being longitudinally adjustable in an upwardly inclined slot ll formed in each member I. Such adjustment is effected as by a screw I2 having threaded engagement with said member I and provided with an end engage able with said axle Ill. As is apparent, manipulation of said screw enables adjustment of the tension of the chain l4 trained around said sprocket Wheel 9. Such adjustable assemblage also enables disengagement of the chain It fromthe sprocket wheel 9 whereby the coaster brake and the rear wheel thereabout may be removed from the bicycle frame. The hub 4 previously referred to, is adapted to rotatabl support a crank driven sprocket wheel I 5 therein with the chain I l trained thereover.

Referring now to the chain guard which is adapted to be mounted onto a bicycle of the type just described, the same is illustrated as comprising a guard body 16 of generally J-shaped cross section as shown in Fig. 4 and preferably formed as by stamping and drawing operations from relatively thin sheet metal stock or the like. Said body is formed with a longitudinally extending portion l'l disposed along the upper side of said chain It and a laterally or downwardly extending portion l8 at its forward end which partially en;- circles the sprocket wheel l5.

For mounting the forwardend ofv the guard 3 body IE to a bicycle and for rendering the portions l1 and I8 rigid relative to one another even though the bodyibeyfabricated from relatively thin stock, there is secured 'to said body a bracket I9 which includes an intermediate arcuate portion 20 which engages and encircles a portion of said hub 4 and radially projecting arms 2| and 23 which respectively include bent ends 24 and 25 connected as by welding to the portions I 1 and 18 of said body I6. Said arms 2| and 23 and said arcuate portion 20 are rendered rigid relative to one another in'a vertical plane as by a stiffening rib 26 formed therein so as to extend longitudinally of said arms and .arcuately along said intermediate portion.

The radial arm 2| of said bracket I9 is formed "will be accurately positioned concentric relative tothe sprocket wheel |5 -andgenerally parallel totheupper side of the-chain 14, by reason of "the engagement of the intermediate portion 20 of the-bracket with the hub 4 and the gripping engagement of the contractible band 21 with the upwardly inclined frame'n-rember 5. Furthen more, the connection-of-said bracket 9 to both I the longitudinailyand :laterally extending portions l1 and I8 of said body l6 assures that such portions will-be retained-in a co-pla-nar relation to one another.

It is to be noted that the longitudinally and lat- 'ei'aily exiending' portions 17 and 1-8 of said g uard body-16 partly overlie "one side'o'gf thesprccket wheel and that the arms 21 and 23 and intermediate portion of said bracket 19 are transuersely spaced from the portions of the body which cuerlieoneside-of wheel 15' whereby to be disposed onthe opposite side of saidwheei 1'5.

-Moreover, the intermediate portion 2-0 of said bracket '19 peripherally engages the-hubs! at regions less than 180 apart whereby said guard as- The rear end of the chain guard body I6 has *weldedor otherwise secured thereto a curved bracket 29 disposed inside of the fork member and mounted to the latter'as by a screw 30 through said member I having threaded engagement with thelower end of said bracket. Said fork member is preferably formed with a slot (not shown) elongated in a' generally horizontal direction through which said screw '30 passes whereby'to provide a clearance to accommodate variations in thedimensions of the bicycle frame and variations in the distance between theb'rackets l9 and 29 of the chain guard.

By way'of summary, it can be-seen that the present invention provides a simple but eflicient chain guard which may be readily mounted onto a bicycle of conventional form and which is so formed that it can be mounted onto the bicycle in only a proper positionclearing the chain and the sprockets. Also, said; guard is of a streamlined ornamental for-m whereby when accurately mounted as aforesaid, enhances the appearance of the bicycle. A further point to be borne in mind is that in view of the-novel form of bracket and the fender-like design of the guard body, said body may be fabricated from light-weight stock but yet the same will have adequate strength and will be firmly held in proper position on the bicycle against deformation.

other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change being made 'asregards the details described, provided the features stated in any of the following claims, or the equivalent of :such, be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claimas my invention:

1. A guard for a chain Or the like trained over wheelsirotatable in spaced apart supports, one of which wheel supponts iinclucle'sa hubiand-a frame member projecting radially therefrom, comprising a body including a longitudinally extending portion adapted to be'disposed' along one side of 'su'ch chain or the -like'and 'a laterally extending portion'atone endadapted to partly encircle-one of such-wheels; a bracket-:atsuch endcfisaid body provided with a portion adapted to atleastpartly encircle such hub andradially projecting arms respectively-connected to such laterally abalongitud-inally-extending portion of said body, and

' clamping means on one ct-said armsior ing said bracket to such frame member, I

2. A guard for a chain or the like trainedover wheels rotatable in spaced apart supports one of which wheel supports incl-udes a hub and a trame member projecting radially therefrom, comprising a body including a longitudinally extending portion adapted to-=be disposedalon'g one side of such chain-or the "like and a laterally extendmg portion atone adapted to partlyenaircleone of such wheels, a bracket at such end of said body provided with a portion. adapted to at'ileas-t partly encirclesu'ch'hub and radially projecting arm's respectively connected to laterally and iongitudinally extending portion of said bodypand clamping means on one or said armsfur -attaching said bracket to such frame member, said lastnamed meansbompr ising 'a contractible band on said bracket adapted'to encircle such frameamemher, and screw means operativeto contract-said band.

3. A bracket for a chain guard body on bicycles 'ofthe type hiclu'di-ng-a hub for-a crank driven sprocket-wheel and a frame-member projecting radially from such hub, comprisingan intermediate curved portion adapted to at al'east p'artly encircle such hub and radiallyextending and pertionshaving their outer ends adapted .for .connection to such'chain guardbody, and-clamping means on *one ofsa'id -arms for .attachingasaid bracket to such'iiamemember.

4. A bracket for a chain guard body-on bicycles of the type including a hub .for 'a crank-driven sprocket wheel and :a frame member projecting radially fromsuch hub, com-prisingian intermediate cu-rved portion adapted toiat leastipartl'y. encircle such hub and radially extending arm portions having their outer en'dsada'ptedi for :connection to such chain guard body, a contractible band on one of said arms adapted to encircle such frame member, and clamping means onsaid band for contracting the same. 6

5. A bracket {or a ch'ain guard body on bicycles of the type including a hubiifora crankdriven sprocket wheel and a frame. member projecting radially from such hub, comprising an'intermedi ate curved portionradaptedto at least-:partlyem circle such hub and radially extending arm portions having their outer ends adapted for con nection to such chain guard body, a contractible band on one of said arms adapted to encircle such frame member, and means on said band for contracting the same, said bracket being formed with a stiffening rib extending along such arms and intermediate portion thereof.

6. A chain guard comprising a body of generally J-shaped cross-section and formed with coplanar longitudinally and laterally extending portions, a bracket on said body formed with an intermediate curved portion and radially extending arms with bent end portions respectively connected to the longitudinally and laterally extending portions of said body, and a contractible band on one of such arms between the ends thereof.

7. A guard for a bicycle chain which is trained over wheels rotatable in spaced apart supports, one of which wheel supports includes a hub, comprising a body formed with longitudinally and laterally extending portions respectively adapted to be disposed along one side of such chain and to partly encircle and overlie one side of the wheel rotatable in the last-named support, a bracket generally in transversely spaced relationship to the aforesaid portions of said body and adapted to be generally disposed on-the opposite side such one wheel from said body, an intermediate portion of said bracket being adapted to peripherally engage such hub to predeterminedly position said body relative to the hub, said bracket further including radial extensions respectively secured to the aforesaid portions of said body and also adapted to be disposed on said opposite side of such one wheel, the intermediate portion of said bracket being formed to peripherally engage such hub at regions less than 180 apart whereby said guard may be positioned as aforesaid by movement in a plane parallel to the plane of such wheel and without necessitating disassembly of such wheel from its support.

8. A guard for a bicycle chain which is trained over wheels rotatable in spaced apart supports, one of which wheel supports includes a hub, comprising a body formed with longitudinally and laterally extending portions respectively adapted to be disposed along one side of such chain and to partly encircle and overlie one side of the wheel rotatable in the last-named support, a bracket generally in transversely spaced relationship to the aforesaid portions of said body and adapted to be generally disposed on the opposite side of such one wheel from said body, an intermediate portion of said bracket being adapted to peripherally engage such hub to predeterminedly position said body relative to the hub, said bracket further including radial extensions respectively secured to the aforesaid portions of said body and also adapted to be disposed on said opposite side of such one wheel, said bracket being formed with a reinforcing rib in a plane transverse to such one wheel to oppose relative twisting of the longitudinally and laterally extending portions of said body, the intermediate portion of said bracket being formed to peripherally engage such hub at regions less than 180 apart whereby said guard may be positioned as alforesaid by movement in a plane parallel to the plane of such wheel and without necessitating disassembly of such wheel from its support.

9. A guard for a bicycle chain which is trained over wheels rotatable in spaced apart supports, one of which wheel supports includes a hub, comprising a body formed with longitudinally and laterally extending portions respectively adapted to be disposed along one side of such chain and to partly encircle and overlie one side of the wheel rotatable in the last-named support, a bracket generally in transversely spaced relationship to the aforesaid portions 0 said body and adapted to be generally disposed on the opposite side of such one wheel from said body, an intermediate portion of said bracket being adapted to peripherally engage such hub to predeterminedly position said body relative to the hub, said bracket further including radial extensions respectively secured to: the aforesaid portions of said body and also adapted to be disposed on said opposite side of such one wheel, and means for securing said bracket to the above-referred to wheel support in a position with its intermediate portion engaged with such hub as aforesaid, the intermediate portion of said bracket being formed to peripherally engage such hub,

at regions less than apart whereby said guard may be positioned as aforesaid by movement in a plane parallel to the plane of such wheel and without necessitating disassembly of such wheel fromv its support.

10. A guard for a chain or the like trained over wheels rotatable in spaced apart supports, one o which wheel supports includes a hub and a frame member projecting radially therefrom, comprising a body including a longitudinally extending portion adapted to be disposed along one side of such chain or the like and a laterally extending portion at one end adapted to partly encircle one of such wheels, a bracket at such end of said body provided with a portion adapted to at least partly encircle such hub and radially projecting arms respectively connected to such laterally and longitudinally extending portion of said body, and means on one of said arms for attaching said bracket to such frame member.

HOMER L. MUELLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent or the original patent.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date In original patent: 611,076 Nies Sept. 20, 1898 In reissue: 599,884 Wills Mar. 1, 1898 FOREIGN PATENTS- Number Country Date In original patents: 232,729 Germany Mar. 20, 1911 467,533 Germany Oct. 27, 1928 In reissue: 529,861 France Sept. 1'7, 1921 266,482 Italy July 30, 1929 

